28 March 2003
Powell Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to South Korea Security
(March 28 remarks following meeting with South Korea's Yoon) (1780)
Secretary of State Colin Powell reaffirmed America's commitment to the
security of the Republic of Korea in remarks March 28 at the State
Department following his meeting with South Korean Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Trade Yoon Young-Kwan.
On the problem of North Korea's quest for nuclear weapons, Powell said
the United States was "pursuing every diplomatic option to solve this
problem."
The Secretary said the United States was "staying engaged" with the
Republic of Korea, as well as with Chinese, Russian, and Japanese
officials on the issue of North Korea.
The United States is also working with the International Atomic Energy
Agency regarding Pyongyang's nuclear bid, he added.
"We continue to believe that the proper way to handle the nuclear
situation with North Korea is through multilateral dialogue," Powell
said. "It is an issue that affects not just North Korea and the United
States, but the other nations in the region."
In response to a question on Iraq, Powell said: "Saddam Hussein was
given his last chance. We now have a war underway and we will
prosecute it to its end, and that end will come in due course."
"[I]t was Saddam Hussein who brought this war upon himself and his
regime; and he will be removed and so will his regime," he continued.
Following is a transcript of Powell's March 28 remarks, as released by
the Department of State:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 28, 2003
Remarks by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
And Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the
Republic of Korea Yoon Young-Kwan
After Their Meeting
March 28, 2003
C Street Entrance
Washington, D.C.
(1:00 p.m. EST)
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good morning or good afternoon, ladies and
gentlemen. It is been my pleasure to host my new Korean colleague,
Foreign Minister Yoon. We have had a good set of discussions. We have
covered the issues you would expect.
We discussed the situation with respect to North Korea and I, once
again, committed to the Foreign Minister and to President Roh that we
are pursuing every diplomatic option to solve this problem, and we are
staying engaged with our South Korean friends on a very regular basis,
as well as our Chinese, Japanese and Russian colleagues, as well as
the International Atomic Energy Agency.
I also, again, reaffirmed to the minister our commitment to the
security of South Korea. I also mentioned to the minister that I have
been involved in South Korean matters for many, many years. It was 30
years ago this year that I assumed command of an infantry battalion in
South Korea and I have the warmest memories of my time in South Korea
and I expressed my pride, and I know the pride of all Americans, on
how South Korea has developed over those 30 years into a thriving,
functioning democracy that has a solid, powerful partnership with the
United States -- a partnership that rests not just on security matters
or the threat presented by North Korea, but by mutual commitment to
the values of democracy and open economic activity and the dignity of
individuals.
So it is a broad and a deep relationship that has many facets to it.
And it's a relationship we hope to build upon as we celebrate this
year the 50th anniversary of our Mutual Treaty of Security and
Defense, and as we look forward to welcoming the new President of the
Republic of Korea when he, President Roh, visits here a little bit
later on this spring.
Mr. Minister, it's a great pleasure to have you here and I invite you
to say a word or two.
MINISTER YOON: Thank you. We had a very pleasant lunch and discussed
various issues related to the North Korea nuclear development and how
we can strengthen our bilateral alliance relationship, and how we can
prepare for the coming summit in May. This year is the 50th
anniversary of our alliance and it is very important for us to have a
very fruitful and successful summit in coming May, and we agreed to
cooperate with each other closely.
Also, we agreed to cooperate in developing some common strategy toward
North Korea. Through closer cooperation we will be able to
successfully resolve the North Korean issue. Thank you.
SECRETARY POWELL: I just want to say before taking a question how
pleased I was to learn a few moments ago that the Security Council has
passed the new Oil-for-Food Resolution for Iraq by a 15-0 vote. I'm
glad the Council was able to come together in unanimity on this issue.
Thank you.
Excuse me. George.
QUESTION: Could you bring us up to date on your request to have a
multilateral discussion involving North Korea?
SECRETARY POWELL: Yes. We continue to believe that the proper way to
handle the nuclear situation with North Korea is through multilateral
dialogue. It is an issue that affects not just North Korea and the
United States, but the other nations in the region. We are pressing
ahead seeking a variety of channels and using a variety of channels to
see if we cannot begin such discussions.
We are hard at work on it. Some suggest that we are distracted because
of Iraq, but that is not the case. We are spending a great deal of
time pursuing this -- these diplomatic alternatives.
QUESTION: What is the formation of the multilateral talks and how
would induce North Koreans into the talks?
SECRETARY POWELL: We are still exploring a variety of options and
avenues, and the one thing I can assure you is that we will be in the
closest coordination and consultation with our South Korean friends as
we go forward. But I have nothing to announce or to say at this time
about any particular format or forum.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, have you spoken with Foreign Minister Ivanov
about your concerns that Russian firms are selling military related
items to Iraq?
SECRETARY POWELL: Yes, I have, regularly. I spoke to Mr. Ivanov most
recently, I think, two days ago, perhaps three, and as I think I have
said before, I gave him additional information at that time, which he
is using with his various ministries to look into the matter and to
run it to ground. But I haven't spoken to him in the last two days.
QUESTION: Secretary Powell, your Korean counterpart this morning
suggested it may be time for a bold initiative along the lines of the
Nixon administration's initiative towards China. Did that come up in
your meeting and what are your views on the utility of such a measure?
SECRETARY POWELL: We discussed a number of ideas. My colleague
presented us with a roadmap of things that we might do with respect to
the situation with North Korea, and I found it to be an interesting
approach, which we will be examining. We also talked about other
things we might do in preparation for the summit meeting later this
spring when President Roh visits.
You will recall that when we started our dialogue with North Korea
last year before the nuclear issue broke out into the open, we were
thinking in terms of a bold initiative, something that would move this
relationship between the nations in the region and North Korea onto a
different plane in a way in which we could help North Korea with its
economic problems, with problems of starvation and other difficulties
they are having within their society.
Those kinds of ideas and options and the kinds of ideas and options
that the minister mentioned in the speech this morning are on the
table. It seems to me once we deal with the issue of nuclear
proliferation, proliferation of weapons, and some of the other
activities that are ongoing within North Korea with respect to their
military expenditures, I think a lot is out there waiting for North
Korea once they realize their obligation to comply with the
international agreements and bilateral agreements they have previously
entered into with respect to nuclear weapons.
QUESTION: Secretary Powell, regarding Iraq, are you considering to any
degree a peaceful solution until now, and are there any contacts from
the Arab sides, especially Saudis, regarding a peaceful solution about
Iraq?
SECRETARY POWELL: We stay in close touch with our Arab friends in the
region. I had a conversation with Foreign Minister Saud a couple of
days ago, but I am not aware of any initiative, and I don't think any
such initiative would be appropriate at this time.
Saddam Hussein was given his last chance. We now have a war underway
and we will prosecute it to its end, and that end will come in due
course. Our commanders are confident and we are confident in them. And
unfortunately, it was Saddam Hussein who brought this war upon himself
and his regime; and he will be removed and so will his regime.
QUESTION: You said United States has not made much progress on
pressing Asian powers to convene a multilateral forum. Do you think
the United States will be eventually successful for that?
SECRETARY POWELL: I didn't say we were not making much progress. You
said we were not making much progress.
We are hard at work with our friends in the region, and a number of
contacts and discussions are underway and we will see what happens. I
don't want to make any predictions or promises that I'm not able to
keep at the moment.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, are you concerned by reports that Syria is
also allowing people to move across its border into Iraq to fight
against the coalition forces, and also that it may be not just
allowing the Russian equipment in, but perhaps contributing other
materiel to the effort?
SECRETARY POWELL: I'm sorry. I haven't seen those reports this
morning, so I can't comment on them.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, due to the present difficulties, would you
like to see the "Powell Doctrine" being implemented in the war in
Iraq?
SECRETARY POWELL: I have absolute confidence in the commanders who are
running this war. And who says it is not being implemented? If
whatever it is you describe it as, it is a clear political objective:
disarm that country of its weapons of mass destruction. You have to do
that by removal of the regime; you use decisive force to do it; and I
can assure you that's what those generals and admirals are over there
doing. And I know it. I trained them.
Thank you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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